Casket-handle.



E. R. SARGENT.

CASKET HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, I914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

WITNESSES.-

AIIORNAY.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAFH '20.,WASHINOTON. D. c.

rain.

EDWARD R. SAIRGENT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT & COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CASKET-HANDLE.

LIOIBZO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. ML, 1915.

Application filed September 29, 1914. Serial No. 864,102.

T 0 all UILOWL it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD R. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casket- Handles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to casket handles, and more particularly to casket handles in which a handle bar is supported from the casket wall by means of separate supporting arms pivoted to one or more attaching plates secured to said wall.

The invention also has particular reference to a handle of this type in which the bar is of cylindrical form, in which case the bar-receiving apertures or sockets in the lower ends of the supporting arms are round, but this is not essential in all aspects of the invention.

Furthermore, the invention has special reference to casket handles wherein the bar is constituted by a sheet metal tube having a longitudinally extending joint, but this is likewise not essential in some aspects of the invention.

Heretofore it has been common practice to secure the bar in each of the supporting arms by means of a single screw passing through the rear portion of the socket part of the arm into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the bar or tube. In assembling the casket handle, the placing of this fastening screw in position is a somewhat tedious matter, and moreover, this screw, no matter how placed, is incapable of preventing twisting or canting of the arm and bar relative to each other.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a simple form of fastening device which will effectively prevent twisting or canting of the arm out of its proper position relative to the bar.

It is also proposed to furnish a fastening device of very simple, inexpensive form, which can be readily applied without the necessity of driving it through the supporting arm.

Still another object which I have in view is the provision of a casket handle in which advantage is taken of the longitudinal joint in the bar, for the purpose of providing a firm and substantial connection of the bar with the arm.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawin Figure 1 is a front elevation of a casket handle embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is an enlarged section on line 4l of Fig. 2; Fig. 4? is a considerably enlarged fragment of Fig. 4; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a somewhat modified construction; F ig. 5 is an. enlarged section on line o -5 of Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one form of fastening device, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of another form of fastening device.

In the drawings, I have shown my improvements as applied to a casket handle embodying a bar 10, supported by arms 11, which are pivoted in the usual manner to attaching plates or so-called socket plates 12. The bar 10 is of cylindrical form, and the openings 13 in the lower apertured or socket portions 14 of the arms 11 are round and of sufficient size to accommodate the bar 10 with a certain amount of clearance, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By preference, the bar 10 will be in the form of a sheet metal tube having one or more longitudinal joints 15. In the form shown, the tube is made up from a single sheet metal blank, thc meeting edges of which are bent to form a lap joint, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4

In accordance with my invention, I secure the bar in each arm by means of a fastening device which is driven into the space between the bar and the inner surface of the wall of the socket, and extends longitudinally of the bar. Furthermore, this device is interlocked with the bar and with the arm in such a manner as to prevent relative rotation or relative lengthwise movement of the arm and bar. By preference, the socket portion of the arm is of soft metal, while the fastening device is made of hard metal and bites into the soft metal of the supporting arm so as to prevent relative rotation of said parts. Relative rotation of the fastening device and arm with respect to the bar is prevented by a depression. projection. or the like, on the bar, which interlocks with the fastening device, and by preference this interlocking means on the bar will be afforded by the longitudinal joint 15. The wedge-like action of the fastening member interposed between -the bar and the socket one side of the lap, and a similar depression 19-is provided at the other side, and when the member 16 is driven between the tube and the socket wall of the arm, the ribs 18 engage in the respective depressions, or grooves 19, and interlock therewith. This prevents relative turning movement of the bar and the fastening member. Relative turning movement of the fastening member and the arm is prevented by relatively sharp flanges, or cutting edges, 20 at opposite sides of the fastening member, which bite into the soft metal of the arm, as shown in ig. 4*. In this manner, the bar and the arm are effectively interlocked against relative turning movement simply by driving the fastening member 16 in between the bar and the socket wall of the arm along the oint 15. In placing the fastening member in position, the joint 15 effectively guides it lengthwise of the bar into the proper position. The fastening member 16 has a full bearing on the bar substantially across the entire width of the arm, and the fastening member is of such size and shape as to bind the arm tightly on the bar. Thus, longitudinal movement of the arm on the bar is prevented, and at the same time the parts are so interlocked that the arm cannot become twisted or canted on the bar, which is a defect of prior constructions.

Of course, I do not limit myself to the particular form of joint shown in Fig. 4*, or to the particular form of fastening member shown in Fig. 6. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the joint 21 in the tube 22 is of somewhat different character, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. This joint provides only a single groove or depression in the bar, and this groove or depression is engaged by a brad 23 driven lengthwise into the groove or depression, and into engagement with the inner surface of the socket wall. In Fig. 7, Ihave shown a fastening member 24, having a single rib 25, to engage the soft metal of the arm, and a corresponding groove at the other side to ride on the joint of the bar.

7 This fastening member is provided with a driving head 26.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the operation of assembling the handle is quite simple. The arm is placed in the desired position on the bar, and the fastening member is then driven lengthwise in the depression of the bar into the space between the bar. and the socket wall. This locks the parts together in a very effective manner without its being necessary to pass any fastening member through the wall of the arm. If it is desired to take the handle apart, or to place the arm in another position on the bar, the fastening member may be readily removed by inserting a suitable tool under the head thereof and prying it out of place. In spite of this fact, however, the fastening member will not be dislocated unintentionally, on account of its positive interlock with the depression in the bar and the biting action of said member in the soft wall of the supporting arm.

Without limiting myself to the construction shown, I claim:

1. Ina casket handle, the combination of a member constructed of soft metal and having a round socket, a tube of hard sheet metal entering said socket, and having a longitudinal depression or groove therein, and a fastening member driven in longitudinally between said tube and the socket wall, and having one part biting into the soft metal of the socket wall, and another part engaged in the depression or groove of the tube; substantially as described.

2. In a casket handle, the combination of a socketed member, a tube entering the socket of said member and having a longitudinal joint, and means cooperating with said longitudinal joint for interlocking said member and said tube; substantially as described.

3. In a casket handle, the combination of a socketed member, a sheet metal tube entering the socket of said member and having a longitudinally directed lap joint, and means for interlocking said member with said lap joint; substantially as described.

4. In a casket handle, the combination of a supporting arm having a round socket, a tube entering said socket and having a longitudinal joint, and means cooperating with said longitudinal joint for preventing turning movement of the tube and arm relative to each other; substantially as described.

5. In a casket handle, the combination of a supporting arm having a socket. a sheet metal tube entering said socket, and having a longitudinal joint, and a member interposed between the outer surface of said tube and the inner surface of said socket. and cooperating with said joint to interlock the tube and arm; substantially as described.

6. In a casket handle, the combination of a supporting arm having a socket. a sheet metal tube entering said socket and having a longitudinal joint affording parallel depressions, and a fastening member interposed between the outer surface of the tube and the inner surface of the socket wall, and having means to engage said depressions; substantially as described.

7. In a casket handle, the combination of a member having a round socket, a sheet metal tube entering said socket and having a longitudinal lap joint, presenting a raised portion or rib with depressions on opposite sides, and a fastening member straddling said lap joint, and having means whereby it is interlocked with the socket wall; substantially as described.

8. In a casket handle, the combination of an arm having a socket, a handle bar eX- tending through said socket and constituted by a sheet metal tube having a longitudinal joint, said socket being of soft metal and said tube being of hard metal, and a fastening device directed longitudinally of the tube and interlocked with said longitudinal joint and with the opposing portion of the socket wall, whereby rotation of the tube in the socket is prevented; substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 26th day of September, 1914.

EDWARD R. SARGENT.

Witnesses:

HELEN F. STAHNKE, ADELE M. LONGSTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, D. G. 

